1 day to go

First, here's your chance to show off your fantasy knowledge and get your name in the Virginian-Pilot's Fantasy Chatter column. Here's the details: Each week, starting with Week 1, submit your pick - by comment on the blog - for the one player you think will rack up the most fantasy points. If your pick gets the most points (as compiled by Yahoo!) you will get the chance to offer a tip, and some bragging rights, in the next week's Fantasy Chatter column in the Pilot. One catch: Anyone can pick Tom Brady or LaDainian Tomlinson. I want more unheralded players. So here's a list of guys you can't pick: Brady, Peyton Manning, Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens. Everyone else is fair game. Ties will be broken by whoever sends in the pick first, so get them in early. For Week 1, the deadline will be 7 p.m. Thursday, when the Giants and Redskins kick off. After that it'll be noon Sunday. And I will note the winner in a blog Tuesday afternoons. Then all the winner needs to do is email his tip to me, with a name and city, to michael.connors@pilotonline.com.

Now, it's time to analyze some of the Week 1 games, starting with Thursday night's Redskins-Giants tilt. Washington's defense looked awful in the preseason without DE Jason Taylor, and he'll be a game-time decision because of a balky knee. Even if he plays he'll be limited. Count on Giants RB Brandon Jacobs enjoying a big game, along with QB Eli Manning, who will begin a breakout campaign. On the Redskins side, QB Jason Campbell looked like he had no clue in Washington's final two preseason games. That's a bad sign against a unit that will blitz constantly against a suspect offense line. Start only TE Chris Cooley, since Campbell won't have time to find Santana Moss or Antwaan Randle El deep. And start the Giants defense.

Lions at Falcons, 1 p.m. Sunday: Start Lions RB Kevin Smith, since newly-signed Rudi Johnson is still learning the playbook. And start QB Jon Kitna against a Falcons defense that was 23rd in the NFL in pass defense last season (228.4 ypg). Start Roy Williams also, though he should be a weekly starter. Calvin Johnson is a good start at receiver also. For the Falcons, start WR Roddy White. He'll be catching passes from rookie QB Matt Ryan, and rookie quarterbacks typically struggle. But Detroit was 31st in pass defense last season (258.2 ypg) and Ryan doesn't have any other quality weapons. Also start RB Michael Turner, because he'll be used heavily while Ryan adjusts to the NFL.

Bengals at Ravens, 1 p.m. Sunday: Start Bengals WRs Chad Johnson (I refuse to call him by his idiotic new name) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, though injuries kept them out most of the preseason. They're back at practice, and Baltimore's defense is a sliver of its past self. As long as Johnson and Houshmandzadeh are healthy, they're every-week starters, as is QB Carson Palmer. TE Ben Utecht is also a good start, since he worked extensively with Palmer in the preseason while Cincinnati's receivers were hurt. On the Ravens side, start no one. RB Willis McGahee hasn't proven he is recovered from preseason knee surgery. He'll likely split carries with Ray Rice. Joe Flacco will start at QB, but he struggled mightily in the preseason. Cincinnati's pass defense is bad, but without anyone to throw him the ball, Ravens WR Derrick Mason should sit.

Thursday we'll take a look at three more Sunday games. In the meantime, send in your fantasy picks, and any questions you have.   

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